Afrikaner ‘Refugees’ Welcomed by the US

Context

The United States has officially welcomed a group of Afrikaners from South Africa as ‘refugees’, citing racial discrimination against them in their home country.

Who are the Afrikaners?

Afrikaners are descendants of mostly Dutch, French, and German settlers who arrived in South Africa between the 17th and 18th centuries.
They speak Afrikaans, a language derived from Dutch, and have historically identified as a distinct white ethnic group with a deep-rooted presence in Africa.
Historical Origins:
- In 1652, the Dutch East India Company set up a halfway station at the Cape of Good Hope to support trade with Asia.
- Early settlers included Dutch, French Huguenot (Protestants fleeing persecution), and Germans.
- The settlers also brought slaves from India, Indonesia, Madagascar, and East Africa, some of whom were absorbed into settler families through a practice called ‘paternalism’.
- These settlers gradually formed a unique identity, calling themselves Afrikaners or Boers (farmers).

Why is the US Accepting Afrikaners as Refugees?

According to the statement from the Trump-aligned administration:

Afrikaners are considered a “vulnerable group facing unjust racial discrimination.”
The move reflects the administration’s selective refugee policy, where priority is given to certain groups over others, often aligning with political and ideological narratives (e.g., Christian minorities from the Middle East, Cubans from Communist rule).

This decision has sparked accusations of racial bias:

Critics argue that white Afrikaners, who have historically held power, are being prioritized over non-white refugees from conflict zones such as Sudan, Yemen, or Myanmar.
The idea of Afrikaners as ‘refugees’ is itself contentious, as many still possess wealth, land, and relatively better living standards than most Black South Africans.

Refugee Definition:

A refugee is generally someone who leaves their home country due to persecution or fear of harm.
Refugees are persons who are outside their country of origin for reasons of feared persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order and, as a result, require international protection.
The refugee definition can be found in the 1951 Refugee Convention and regional refugee instruments, as well as UNHCR’s Statute.

India’s International Obligations:

While India is not legally bound by the Refugee Convention, it is still bound by international human rights.
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Convention Against Torture require India to refrain from refouling individuals to places where they may face torture or cruel, inhuman treatment.
India does not have a refugee law but uses laws like the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passport Act, 1967 to treat Rohingya refugees as illegal migrants.